Courtesy of thrustinternet.com

#1: The Word ‘Teach’

People always look for value in posts, so when they see the word ‘teach’ they know that they’re going to learn something. This is a great start to getting readers to communicate.

#2: The Word ‘Inspire’

Your social media fans love positive re-enforcement, so the word inspire is always well received. Most people would never say no to being a little inspired during the day.

#3: The Word ‘Motivate’

Everyone wants to be motivated, so when you have a secret weapon that will help them do just that, people respond to it. Tell your fans you have something that will get them moving!

#4: The Word ‘Share’

Social media is about sharing, but the word isn’t used much in the context of actually sharing something. Share and use the word, for a double whammy that will attract your fan’s attentions.

#5: The Word ‘Free’

Now, free can sometimes be a bad thing – but used on a credible site like yours, it can be a winner. Entice fans to engage with your brand using the word ‘free’ – it totally works!

#6: The Word ‘Entertain’

If there’s one thing you need to know about the internet, it’s that people LOVE to be entertained here. Promise them some great entertainment, and they’ll follow you anywhere.

#7: The Word ‘Now’

It’s easy to overuse the word ‘now’ so that it loses its meaning. Use it well, and it can have a very powerful effect on your fans. But this is only if you do it right, from now!

#8: The Word ‘Help’

While you aren’t a helpdesk, your fans often need help with things that they can’t find answers too online. Use the word help to direct them to the right information in your posts.

#9: The Word ‘Reward’

Fans love rewards, but they never know when they’re going to get them. Hype your posts and incentives by using the magical word ‘rewards’ and your interaction will spike.

#10: The Word ‘Discover’

When you use the word ‘discover’ it makes your readers feel like you have some exclusive piece of never-before-seen information, just for them. That’s why it works!

Use these 10 words to enhance your Facebook updates, tweets, blog post titles, Pinterest comments and Google+ updates. They have been found to have the most impact in the English language, on other people. Test word combos to see how they perform together.

For example: “Discover How This Inspiring Word Combo Will Help You Now – Rewards To Come!” Obviously you shouldn’t use them all in one sentence, but you get the idea!

Browse through your Facebook posts. Which words have received the most response from your fans? Add them here!

Courtesy of locankinsella.com

#1: Strip All of Your Unique Images

Whether you’re on Pinterest, Flickr or your blog, all of your unique images should be stripped with your business name and URL. That way if the pic gets shared or goes viral, you benefit!

#2: Get Personal on Pinterest

Take some photos of yourself and your employees and encourage interaction by being engaging and open. Start your own Q&A sessions on Pinterest, and you’ll see!

#3: Host a 5+ Person Live Tweet Session

Invite people to join in on your live tweet session. Get a few employees to tweet along with you to encourage chatter. Select a hashtag that will work, and promote it online.

#4: Talking Head Videos as Customer Service Answers

Record videos of yourself, or a team member, answering customer questions, or solving problems in your niche. Videos always get a lot of comments if you syndicate them.

#5: Facebook App Trivia in Your Niche

There’s one way to keep your Facebook fans talking and returning, and that’s with a custom Facebook trivia app. Come up with 500 questions based on your niche, and promote your app!

#6: Linkbait Posts For Your Blog

In the pro blogging niche, a linkbait post is a controversial or highly interesting post that is designed to get people talking, sharing, liking and syndicating. Do at least 1 a week.

#7: Record a Google+ Video Session

Invite experts in your niche to a video session on Google+. Record the session, which should be interesting, informative and enlightening. Then publish the video on Youtube.

#8: Publish Expert Insights in Your LinkedIn Mails

Invite your LinkedIn group to come up with great quotes for your community. Then publish the best ones each month, in your LinkedIn mailers. People will love it.

#9: Run Contests For Real Prizes

Run contests as often as you can – they always inspire chatter! Just remember that people either want a massive prize, or massive exposure, so give them at least one to secure a viral effect for your contest.

#10: Tap Into Tech With Scavenger Hunts

If you have a network of websites, create interesting clues on each of them – like a trail of breadcrumbs, to lead your fans to a discount coupon, or a fun freebie. People will love the process, and that’s what they’ll chat about. It’s a great way to collect email addresses.

Any one of these great ideas can get your fan’s tongues wagging. As long as you’re engaging them outside your pages, as well as on your pages – you’ll be able to insight some chatter. Incentives though, do tend to get people moving.

How do you inspire your social media communities to chat with each other, or about your brand? I’d like to know.

Courtesy of thesocialworkplace.com

#1: Find Debate Then Engage Your Community

There are always hot debates happening in a specific niche, and you need to find out what yours are. Then use them to engage with your fans. Ethical, moral or theoretical debates can draw people in, and will make them want to join the conversation.

#2: Quiz Your Community of Problem Solvers

Ask your community to solve quiz-like problems, by giving them a real world issue, and asking them to find the solution. This works best if you speak in first person. Jenny only has $200.00 per month to spend on advertising – what should she invest in?

#3: Make Your Questions Vivid By Example

Use vivid examples to illustrate your point, when you’re trying to engage your audience. Don’t be afraid to ask your fans for help, or to admit that you’ve made mistakes. Your fans will sympathize, and offer their advice on what to do next.

#4: Write with Creative Flair

Your fans appreciate a bit of humor or creativity in their favorite brands, so hone in on it. Instead of saying it was ‘cold as ice’ use interesting or funny descriptions to liven up your tone. Being witty means finding unusual ways to describe average things.

#5: Use The Rule of Three in Your Writing

The rule of three involves using structures of three to improve your writing. Use three examples, three bullet points, three anecdotes in an article. People process information in threes, and it makes a powerful statement when you use them.

#6: Be Controversial

If everyone is raving over the new Facebook functionality, post a blog about its faults, or the problems it’s causing in the community. Being controversial is a great way to attract interaction – you’ll get a lot of agreement and a lot of disagreement. Both are wins!

#7: Be Personal, In a Meaningful Way

Be personal with your communities. Add personal stories that enhance what you’re speaking about. But don’t be too personal – it has to be done within reason. Don’t use your pages to complain, rave or behave like you do with your private networks, that won’t work.

#8: Include Other People

Speak to people by name, and comment on their writing, on their pages and in their communities. You have to be a mobile authority, not someone who is only interested in running their own pages. Get others involved, by being involved on their turf.

These 8 great tips will keep your fans engaged and interacting with your content. And don[‘t forget the first rule of writing – be authentic!

Which tip do you find the most useful? Tell us why you think it will work in your niche.

Courtesy of comm2901.wordpress.com

#1: Cross Promotion With Facebook Apps

One of the most notable and successful features on the McDonalds Facebook page, is their ‘The Quest’ app. It serves several purposes and promotes cross promotion across Facebook and Twitter. Fans play a game on their Facebook application, unlocking various product based incentives. Then they are encouraged to share their achievements using a unique Twitter hashtag. Top marks for cross marketing!

#2: Social Game Involvement

Everyone plays Cityville on Facebook, so McDonalds decided to include a virtual restaurant that fans can add to their city. Best of all – it comes with incentives. When you master your virtual McDonalds restaurant, you get rewards and bonuses. This is superb social marketing, integrated with a game fans love to play. McDonalds likes to be where their target demographic is, even in the virtual world.

#3: Personalized Replies on Twitter

McDonalds isn’t your typical faceless corporation, it has a voice on Twitter. With over 189 000 followers, the team managing the McDonalds Twitter page, still has time to reply to individual questions, comments and compliments. Speaking directly to your customers is a great way to ensure that they continue to speak to you. It’s not all about auto-tweets, promotion and scheduled content.

#4: Community Involvement

McDonalds is beginning to include their fan bases in marketing decisions, by running competitions, polls and gathering votes. A great example is their voice of McDonald’s competition. McDonalds employees sing, and the fans vote. Excellent for promotion, and even better for social interaction on the internet.

#5: Video Sharing

McDonalds has dozens of Youtube channels, for individual products, stores or made by fans. Their videos enhance their other social sites, and showcase McDonald’s employees. People are far more likely to interact with a company on Facebook or Twitter, if they promote the actions of real people. They get comments, likes, tweets and more, in excess. Perhaps it’s time to put some faces to your business name?

#6: Widening Their Social Reach

The McDonalds Facebook page also includes a non-English application for the Hispanic population. Clearly a large portion of their demographic, McDonalds felt it necessary to give these fans the chance to engage in their own language. The lesson here is to widen your social reach across language barriers!

Use these 6 tips to inspire some genuine sharing and engagement the next time you’re looking for ways to make your fans happy. McDonald’s is definitely a leader in pioneering the use of social media for sales, community and open engagement. Overall we have to say – we’re lovin’ it!

Which tip did you find the most useful from our McDonalds expose? Leave your favorite below, and tell us why you think it’s the best.

Courtesy of comm2901.wordpress.com

#1: Cross Promotion With Facebook Apps

One of the most notable and successful features on the McDonalds Facebook page, is their ‘The Quest’ app. It serves several purposes and promotes cross promotion across Facebook and Twitter. Fans play a game on their Facebook application, unlocking various product based incentives. Then they are encouraged to share their achievements using a unique Twitter hashtag. Top marks for cross marketing!

#2: Social Game Involvement

Everyone plays Cityville on Facebook, so McDonalds decided to include a virtual restaurant that fans can add to their city. Best of all – it comes with incentives. When you master your virtual McDonalds restaurant, you get rewards and bonuses. This is superb social marketing, integrated with a game fans love to play. McDonalds likes to be where their target demographic is, even in the virtual world.

#3: Personalized Replies on Twitter

McDonalds isn’t your typical faceless corporation, it has a voice on Twitter. With over 189 000 followers, the team managing the McDonalds Twitter page, still has time to reply to individual questions, comments and compliments. Speaking directly to your customers is a great way to ensure that they continue to speak to you. It’s not all about auto-tweets, promotion and scheduled content.

#4: Community Involvement

McDonalds is beginning to include their fan bases in marketing decisions, by running competitions, polls and gathering votes. A great example is their voice of McDonald’s competition. McDonalds employees sing, and the fans vote. Excellent for promotion, and even better for social interaction on the internet.

#5: Video Sharing

McDonalds has dozens of Youtube channels, for individual products, stores or made by fans. Their videos enhance their other social sites, and showcase McDonald’s employees. People are far more likely to interact with a company on Facebook or Twitter, if they promote the actions of real people. They get comments, likes, tweets and more, in excess. Perhaps it’s time to put some faces to your business name?

#6: Widening Their Social Reach

The McDonalds Facebook page also includes a non-English application for the Hispanic population. Clearly a large portion of their demographic, McDonalds felt it necessary to give these fans the chance to engage in their own language. The lesson here is to widen your social reach across language barriers!

Use these 6 tips to inspire some genuine sharing and engagement the next time you’re looking for ways to make your fans happy. McDonald’s is definitely a leader in pioneering the use of social media for sales, community and open engagement. Overall we have to say – we’re lovin’ it!

Which tip did you find the most useful from our McDonalds expose? Leave your favorite below, and tell us why you think it’s the best.

Courtesy of life.nationalpost.com

Pope Benedict XVI has been very outspoken about new social technology, commenting that it provides the church with an unprecedented level of interaction with Catholics all over the globe. This in itself is surprising, as the church has a long-standing track record of not embracing new technology right away.

But what significance does this hold for social media, and engaging your target audience?

A Closer Community of Loyal Followers

The Vatican has a very specific social media campaign on the go, which includes Facebook, Youtube and now Twitter. What is even more interesting, is that the Pope’s first tweet was done in English. The social significance in such an act is very meaningful for all businesses using social media today.

It proves beyond all doubt, that the only way to truly reach your customers these days is with a targeted social media campaign. This campaign is the most far-reaching in English, and should involve several different types of social interaction, nurtured on several social platforms. Even the Vatican recognizes that engaging their target audience is done most efficiently via social media strategy.

Right now the Vatican’s social platforms still have a fairly low following, but this will change as they continue to endorse new technology. Catholicism has a built-in audience of hundreds of millions of people worldwide.

And with the Vatican moving forward with their plans to unify all of these people on social media, we might be looking at what could become one of the most powerful social communities on the internet.

The Hype is Gone

Social media hype is disappearing behind endorsements from spiritual leaders like the Pope. The Catholic Church has never invested itself in something that is a passing craze, or something that won’t have positive long-term ramifications for the church.

Businesses that are still not convinced of the power that social media has, to not only build their business, but bring together their community – will start to see the value in social engagement.

It’s not that print, television and radio is dead – it’s just that they can’t approach social media when it comes to community growth, and eventually turning these fans into paying customers. A business owner can spend weeks reading about social media, and still not want to take that first step into social technology.

But even the Pope knows, that it’s here to stay. At some point, you will have to join the social media boom, or risk losing all of your business to your social competitors.

If you don’t have a social media campaign yet, then it’s time to get one. If you do, then you need to concentrate on strengthening your social media content strategy. If history has taught us anything, it’s that when the church hops on the bandwagon, the change is permanent. Social media isn’t going anywhere.

What do you think of the Pope’s social media endorsement? What effect will it have on your social media campaign? Leave your comment below!

Courtesy of therealsjr.posterous.com

#1: Segment Your Community Based on Engagement

You have access to the names and activities of everyone in your social community. This means that you can segment your potential customers based on their interaction on your pages.

Outspoken people are easy to profile, as you can collect info based on what they say, comment on, like, disagree with – and so on. You can also get a clearer picture of what less-outspoken community members like, because they will only interact if they are truly interested.

If you monitor the conversation on each of your social media pages, soon you’ll get a clearer idea of what each person is all about. Some will be passive shoppers, never saying anything – but they buy from you.

Some will be extremely interactive, and won’t buy a thing. Sort your community into segments based on their behaviour, and come up with a social profile for each. Determine what their social personality is, and what sort of messages will engage them enough to want to buy something.

#2: Cracking The Social Engagement Code

There are a few distinct social personalities online, and they are easy to identify. Use this key to segment your community, and get a head start on streamlining your messages, so that they work.

1 – The Business Marketer

Usually a business owner or marketer that is highly interactive. They are more likely to respond to messages that will help them improve their businesses, or get them more exposure online. They often like to talk about themselves.

2 – The Competitor Expert

Many people will become part of your community because you are in direct competition with their business. They will offer a lot of interaction, but will be very wary about buying anything from you – unless it is guaranteed to work for them.

3 – The Social Butterfly

Someone that loves to interact but rarely buys anything. The only way to reach these people, is to build a solid relationship with them. They won’t respond to run of the mill marketing messages. Try including them in a promotion, sending them free samples or recruiting them as a word of mouth marketer.

4 – The Named Ghost

A person that never shares – and is barely ever on your pages. If you want to get their attention, you’re going to have to entice them with gifts, or personal emails with colourful multimedia. These are the most difficult people to convert into buyers. They collect communities, but are never truly part of them.

#3: Different Ways To Engage

As we said before, everyone if different. So, approach them with different media. Use articles, podcasts, video, slideshare presentations, app games – anything you can to get them interested in your business, and what your business has to offer.

You’ll be able to measure and track who in your community responds to certain types of media. Make a note of this in their social profile, and market to these segments based on relevant data.

How do you engage your many customers on social media? Do you have a tip you’d like to share? Please add it to the comments below!